PJTHOR

Hey guys, I need some help. I'm installing a new intake manifold and need to know the correct final torque for my 2003 5.4 liter. The Ford manual I have says final torque should be 89 inch-lbs, but other online sources say 18 ft-lbs. That's quite a difference and I'm wondering if anybody knows for sure which is right. I would really appreciate the correct answer! Thank you in advance for your help.

COStruck

This is for 2001.

PJTHOR

Thank you for that. I have that same diagram and spec, but have also seen 18 ft-lb for 2003. I wonder if something changed for 2003 ...

COStruck

Could be. Maybe someone else has a definitive answer. Good luck!

JCR 56

Torkspec.com says for a SOHC modular all years 19 ft.lbs. Retorque when hot.

PJTHOR

Thank you JCR 56, that torque figure makes sense. I thought it should be in the 18 to 20 ft.-lbs. range. Also, thanks for the Torkspec.com resource for looking up torque specs. Very helpful.

rothstar

The 1999 manual calls for Stage 2 to be 15-22ft-lb. The 2001 workshop manual calls for 89in-lb just as COStruck shows, but the electronic version of the manual calls for 18ft-lb. Very frustrating because it is such a big difference.
My only explanation is that the lower intake manifold bolts specify 89in-lb and maybe they had a copy and paste error on a couple of these manuals that carried the 89in-lb over. The vast majority of the specs indicate 18ft-lb so I am going to tighten to 18ft-lb on all of my vehicles plastic or aluminum intake.

mbb

2003 says 18 ft pounds. All I know is that's what I did and it hasn't leaked.....yet.

. I wouldn't trust anything torque to 7.5 foot pounds.... My oil drain plug is tighter than that

The manifolds were redesigned for the model year 2003 with a better composite plastic. They very well could have had changes that allowed for more torque or necessitated more torque. I think you would have to look at the manifold and the gasket as a important combination of OEM Ford parts with regard to this. And follow the specs.

I did so blindly and all I can say is I haven't had any trouble

BareBonesXL

Here is 2003. It has both. in-lb and ft-lb. Easy to see how it could be confusing. Both are 18. 2 Nm, 25 Nm = 18 in-lb and 18 ft-lb. Crazy! Thank you Ford.

The 4.6 numbers are the same.

Edit - I guess I'm just confirming mbb's post...

Mike in Shores

So I'm right in the middle of the same project and then anything but a mechanic! I'm going by the Haynes manual or at least I was, it only lists the 8 bolts on the manifold itself in the torque sequence and I knew from other forms that that couldn't be right because I read the whole thread on number 13 really being number 11. The Haynes manual says to do 18 and 100 lb when talking in two stages, however it says nothing about doing stage 2 and hot of course that makes perfect sense thermodynamically, so I think I'm just going to take everybody's answers and mix them all up and see what I get hopefully it's not another leaky manifold which started this project in the first place! The Haynes manual does not, it seems, have a diagram for vacuum hoses which after the throttle body is my next hurdle to clear I'm hoping the general shape of each will make it somewhat easy to figure out what goes where. Is anyone know of a good diagram for these vacuum hoses?

The buddy I borrowed the torque wrench from only had the old fashioned spring type with a needle, does anyone have an opinion on whether or not I should use that or just bite the bullet and by the clicking kind?

This project has taken over a month and while at first I was in a hurry to get my truck back on the road, about a week ago I borrowed a car and I think I just bought it LOL it's a 2005 escape wagon which I think might be the perfect commuter car when considering gas here is 529 A gallon! On a good day the expedition gets right at 19 miles per gallon and I'm not sure what the escape does, but it seems like I've driven a lifetime on a single think of gas!